TC about to hire new vice president of instruction

After a two-year search, Taft College has apparently finally found a new vice president of instruction.

He's Mark Williams, who is coming from Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore.

TC Superintendent-President Dena Maloney announced Friday in an email to the college community that she will be recommending Williams to the West Kern Community College District Board of Trustees when it meets next week.

Maloney said Williams brings a background that will be a big help to TC.

She listed a some of his positions and responsibilities

•Serving as a full-time faculty in Computer Science

•Faculty webmaster responsibilities

•Director of an off campus education center

•Dean of Computer Information Technology and Business

•Dean of Career and Technical Education

“Mark has been involved in state-wide projects to support student success, retention and persistence,” Maloney write. “He also has experience in accreditation, which will be helpful to all of us in our upcoming accreditation self-study and site visit in 2015. I think that as he settles into this position he will be a tremendous asset in our efforts to support student achievement at Taft College.”

Patti Bench has been serving as interim vice president of instruction since Dr. Henry Yong left the college in late May 2011 to become president of Evergreen Valley College.

“(Bench) has done a remarkable job of moving Taft College’s instructional program forward and was instrumental in helping us conduct a successful recruitment for the vice president of instruction position,” Maloney said. “I can’t thank her enough for all she has done for us and I know she will be a tremendous leader to Mark as he gets oriented to his new position here.”